. >> my father is from guinea and my mother is from liberia. i was born in philadelphia. growing up, i was ostracized. people would say, you know, you are not black -- >> people would say you are not really black? >> growing up. that's what they would tell me for a significant portion of my life. >> both of my parents are considered light-skinned blacks, but what makes me black and what makes them black is the culture. >> michaele angela davis is a former editor for "essence," a magazine for black women. today she lectures and writes on race and image. >> the music, the spirit, the food, the way we love and the way black people have soul. >> i think it's a combination of all of it. i think it's skin tone. i think it's experience. i think it's culture. i think it's a mindset. if you claim black that's what you are. >> i think there's this understanding in the particular racialized society, you have to be seen as black so when we walk into a room they know i am black but might question what you are so it has to do with do people see you as black? if people don't see you as